Attendees of this year’s Bal will step into an ethereal landscape of our subconscious hopes and aspirations that sit latent or ignored, brought to fruition by larger-than-life art installations, immersive music and dance performances, and engaging artistic activities.

The Bal is also a celebration of the dreams that have led us to this space and time. Once a bustling city of innovative manufacturing, Cleveland continues its uphill battle to rebrand into a new artistic identity. The Made-in-Cleveland stamp has found its way from steel furnaces or car parts to year-round public art or theatrical displays.

To ignore the unmistakable progression from creative manufacturing to artistic expression would be a disservice to the rich and vibrant history that Cleveland has to offer. In fact, the Bal revives the former warehouse of Osborn Manufacturing Company, which first found its home on Hamilton Avenue in 1902. Osborn led its own industry of innovative techniques like automatic molding and core blowing mechanisms that revolutionized foundry manufacturing. This certainly paved the way for contemporary dreamers to see materiality and creation in a new light.

The Dreamer’s Bal supports IngenuityFest 2019: Dreamscapes, celebrating its 15th anniversary as a staple Cleveland event and its fourth at the Hamilton Collaborative, taking place from September 27-29. Proceeds also support Ingenuity’s year-round programming including the IngenuityLabs small creative business incubator, the volunteer-driven arts group The Ingeneers, and the newly-launched Ignite! entrepreneurship education series.

Want to get involved in 2019’s program? Get in touch with emily@ingenuitycleveland.org if you’re interested in sponsorship, donating products or services, volunteering or any other ideas you might have!

Past Fundraisers:

The Bal Ingénieux – this one-night only annual event has revived Cleveland historic Kokoon Arts Club parties. When they started in 1912, these events were emblematic of a city at the epicenter of creativity and innovation and whose best days lie ahead. We think that’s as true today as ever.

Bal Ingénieux 2015 took place on May 16, at the Kalman and Pabst photo group, where it highlighted the local firm’s exquisite refurbished warehouse.

Bal Ingénieux 2016 took place on June 6 at the historic former Tenk Machine Co., now operated by Tenk West Bank. The Enchanted Forest theme enlivened the Tenk Building over 20,000 square feet of programming in 5 rooms. The building is now on the rise with local businesses Six Shooter Coffee, Marigold Catering, a co-working space and much more!

Ingenuity’s 2017 Bal: Aquatique was a magical combination of art, performance, and discovery, celebrating Cleveland’s creative landscape while raising funds for our IngenuityLabs incubator program, maker activities, and more. The event was our first program to open up the second floor at the new Hamilton Collaborative, where it once again channeled the spirit of the Kokoon Arts Club, while raising awareness for water-centered innovation in our region! It all took place over 25,000 square feet, complete with a deep-sea Day-Glo ball pit, water-themed makers and exhibitors, and enough programming to swim in, on May 6, 2017.